Kate Loving Shenk asked:


I hung out with my old dog Mukunda, today, as I do every day.

I took him to my friend Ellen’s house and we exchanged the Mechano treatment, only after we tossed a few rounds of ball and marveled at how well Muki ignored Aslom, the cat.

We complimented him on his good manners. I took him for several leisurely walks around Ellen’s large city yard and we admired the spring crocus, and snow drops between dark green chive.

During our treatments, Mukunda laid dutifully on the floor, looking our way occasionally with a laughing pant.

He ate all of Aslom’s cat food. He had the run of that big old house and the yard, but he only wanted to be with us.

Later, I took him to the Vets. Muki has a tumor on the left side of his body which has doubled in size since December.

Frank, our Vet, had a look of concern on his face as he examined and palpated and probed. He thought that Muki looked awfully fat but in reality, had only gained 4 pounds since the last visit.

Was it all the cat food he ate earlier?

Was it all the late night winter snacking?

Frank wondered, Could it be ascites?

Ascites is an ominous sign. The mere mentioned raised my pulse rate.

Ascites is when the abdomen fills with fluid accompanied by a cancer that has metastized.

But Muki didn’t have a heart murmur, a good thing.

Before Frank would do the surgery, he did a chest xray and some blood work to determine the health–or illness–of my old dog.

Holding him down on the xray table was a challenge, because he kept nipping the technician. Drawing blood was no picnic either. He snarled a few times, but I whispered in his ear how much I love him.

Naturally he calmed down because above all else, Muke loves the word “love.”

Muke and I were ushered to the waiting room to wait for results when our Great White Purinese neighbor, Baxtor, came in for an appointment with his mistress to assess his allergies.

Muki and Baxtor immediately recognized each other and did a dance around the other.

Muki journeys to see Baxter every morning and evening as a sacred ritual to begin and end the day.

So as I waited for the test results, inwardly knowing I must face any bad news that Frank might have, but also knowing that Mukunda is alert, loves to eat, loves to sprint to the edge of the property several times a day, (while at the same time, bothered by the fast growing tumor), so I did not have an ominous feeling about what news Frank might have about the test results.

As much as I love my Mukunda, and as much as I don’t want him to die, I know the time will one day come when he will die.

And I will join him the moment I draw my last breath.

Frank came out and said, You have to see this xray!! It is gorgeous!!

And, indeed it was: clear lungs, strong heart, succinct borders around the liver and abdomen. Wow!! All those Mechano treatments I give him are paying off!! as well as meals made from scratch, sprinkled with brewers yeast and dried stinging nettle that grows prolifically along the mighty Conestoga River bank that spans the front of our property.

And Muke regularly meditates with the humans in the house.

He knows what “meditate” means.

Then later, the blood work result revealed no elevation of white cells, perfect liver enzymes, platelets excellent, Calcium within normal range, and an above average hemoglobin level.

Frank, I said, There’s one more very important consideration. Mukunda and I have never been apart. I take him on every vacation, I’ve never boarded him, and I work nights so he is always with another human being.

He needs to know that I will not desert him during his operation.

May I stay with him while he undergoes surgery?

Without hesitation, Frank said, Of course, Kate. He is your baby.

And I secretly wondered, How will I detach from my lovely beast?

Strict Spiritual practice is in order to prepare for this event.

To Be Continued…..

Stephen Becker asked:

For all the scientific advances of the industrial age (since late 1930s) cats, dogs and humans are on a very slippery slope in this, the early 21st Century.

Gastrointestinal and immune diseases are epidemic. There are over 150 million domestic cats and dogs in the United States alone! If only 10% of them are unhealthy that represents some 15 million cats and dogs. It is good to be a veterinarian today.

cats and dogs suffer with; Allergies, Arthritis, Diabetes, Constipation, Crohns Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Kidney and Urinary Infections, Feline Leukemia, and Dog Cancer, to name just a few of the human diseases and disorders afflicting them.

How many people and pets do you know who are taking multiple medications? Do you know any person or pet that has been cured by taking medication? Me neither. It would seem medications are not the answer. So what is?

Well, self control, for starters. Do you really think a few pharmaceutical pills can make up for a lifetime of bad habits? And what toll do both of these take on future generations? Clearly, they come with a high price.

What exactly do we share in common with our pets? We breathe, eat, drink, and sleep. We live ever more stressful lives. Within these most basic shared elements lay the answers to: Why?

The United States population doubled since 1950! Housing, feeding and transporting 300+ million people comes at the expense of cutting down billions of acres of oxygen giving forests.

AIR: Increasingly, each generation since 1950 is breathing a lot less oxygen and a lot more carbon dioxide. Chemical cleaners can be very toxic, especially to pets walking and breathing nearest the floor. These chemicals can burn. Pets often lick their paws to remove the burn only to ingest the chemicals. These can not be good things, but they are not the most pressing issues.

WATER: Bottled water has become a multi-billion dollar industry because we rightfully fear the innumerable chemical residues commonly found in tap water; let alone what even more dangerous chemical combinations these toxic residues might become. This is a biggie, but not the biggest!

We are multi-tasking our tails off, juggling bills, work, family, home, relationships- now that is stress! Where sharing full course meals daily with family was once common, meals have been reduced to a necessity; mostly ingested on the fly, or in front of the computer.

SLEEP: Deprived does not begin to describe our collective condition. People are overworked, underpaid and sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation contributes to stress. Pets are very sensitive to your stress. It adds to theirs.

FOOD: Out of necessity, it has become a Fast Food World, loaded with empty calories, and refined sugars; meaning they contain little to no fuel to support our bodies immune systems. We turn to caffeine and refined sugars for a buzz. Coca Cola sells 500 million bottles every day! What does not help keep us healthy makes us unhealthy!

If you want to get healthy, and stay healthy, you only need to look at what healthy minded people are doing. While they struggle with many of the same stresses, they are minimizing their health risks by not drinking, cooking, and probably not even bathing or doing laundry in tap water. While they may cheat from time to time, they seldom eat fast foods, junk foods, or drink colas; many have sleep numbered beds and air purifiers.

They shop in natural food markets, which also offer alternative foods for cats and dogs. And while that is a step in the right direction, the best and simplest way to restore and maintain your pets health is to look at what their wild relatives eat- fresh kill with a side of soil based organisms (SBOs)!

When a house cat or dog gets a chance, they will head right for grass and dirt. Why? They instinctively know that grass and dirt contain microflora and soil based organisms (SBOs) that are essential digestive aids. SBOs are in fact, the missing link to restoring and maintaining GI health.

Quote: Fully 90% of all disease is caused by an unhealthy intestinal system. Royal Society of Medicine Great Britain

Most domestic cats and dogs have little exposure to grass, besides, urban and most suburban grass is bathed in pesticides, insecticides, chemical runoff, and inorganic fertilizers. The SBOs you and your pets need must now be grown and harvested under strict laboratory conditions.

The next best diet to fresh kill for cats and dogs consists of raw (or very lightly cooked) fish, chicken and meat that are antibiotic and hormone free. Seeming miracles take place when raw foods are given along with SBOs, vital oils and digestive enzyme .

SBOs are helping people and pets regain and maintain their health and vitality, even those struggling with the effects of chemo-therapy and toxic cancer medications.

That stated, millions of people (and pets) are so weakened from long term exposure to poor choices, as well as (and this being no fault of theirs) because they were born to generations of ever weakened mothers, or weaned prematurely from mother’s milk.

While everyone should supplement their diets with omega 3 based oils, and digestive enzymes, pets and people who are chronically ill need these, plus anti-inflammatory products. Until inflammation is resolved, no food, vitamin, mineral, or medication can work as intended. This fact is overlooked by most veterinarians and doctors.

Individually any of the basic stress related elements we share with our pets can cause disease. Collectively, they represent a stacked deck. It is often said that: Knowledge Is Power. Now that you have it, what will you do with it?

villenoire asked:


re an important organ for the body – human or canine. They are responsible for ridding the body of toxins by filtration. Kidney disease causes the kidneys to function at only about thirty percent of their capacity. If the kidneys stop working, the toxins accumulate in the blood and get deposited in other organs. Subsequently, the dog dies.

Kidney failure in dogs stops the ability of the body to function properly. Toxins begin to build up in their bodies and once this starts, a number of symptoms and warning signs will more than likely become apparent. These two chronic diseases show different symptoms, the acute form can appear more suddenly. Often, dogs suffering from this type of kidney disease will possibly have become dehydrated. For the owner to test for hydration, gently pull on the skin of your dog\’s stomach. This should spring back. If it doesn\’t, there may be a possibility that your dog is dehydrated.

Your dog may have noticeable trouble passing urine or produce no urine as all. Your pet may be a victim of acute kidney disease if they have this warning sign. You may see your animal moving with an arched back or stiff legs and your dog can have extreme pain in the kidneys. Any dog owner should be sure to watch for these signs of kidney disease.

In the case of chronic kidney disease, the symptoms are different and they occur over a period of time. The first indicator is an increase in thirst and consequently water consumption. This is a constant indicator of the disease. The dog might lose his or her desire to eat resulting in excessive weight loss over time. Contrary to the acute kidney disease, in the chronic version, the canine loses control over its bladder function. As a result, it urinates very frequently. As time passes, the process of ********* will cause extreme discomfort and become very painful. It is possible that there might even be blood in the urine or it may become impossible for the dog to urinate completely. Since the chronic kidney disease is a fatal illness, it is advisable to rush your pet to the veterinarian as soon as you see any of the warning signs such as problem in urination, vomiting, lethargy and depression. Any combination of these signs is a sure shot reason to go to the vet. If caught in time, there is hope for cure of this malady.

The treatment that a vet will start, for this very serious ailment, is typically four staged. The first step is to carry out a physical check up to eliminate other reasons for the symptoms. Next is the verification from the owner regarding the history and symptoms of this disorder. Then there will be tests – a blood test and finally a urine test to confirm the prognosis.

villenoire asked:

bably one of the leading causes of death in older dogs. There are two forms in which the disease can manifest itself, acute or chronic. The acute form can happen so quickly and suddenly, while the chronic form begins slowly and progresses over time. Sadly for the owner, news of either form of disease is upsetting.

Kidneys are an important organ for the body – human or canine. They are responsible for ridding the body of toxins by filtration. Kidney disease causes the kidneys to function at only about thirty percent of their capacity. If the kidneys stop working, the toxins accumulate in the blood and get deposited in other organs. Subsequently, the dog dies.

Kidney failure in dogs stops the ability of the body to function properly. Toxins begin to build up in their bodies and once this starts, a number of symptoms and warning signs will more than likely become apparent. These two chronic diseases show different symptoms, the acute form can appear more suddenly. Often, dogs suffering from this type of kidney disease will possibly have become dehydrated. For the owner to test for hydration, gently pull on the skin of your dog\’s stomach. This should spring back. If it doesn\’t, there may be a possibility that your dog is dehydrated.

Another telltale sign of the acute kidney disease is the extreme reduction or total stoppage of urine. Your dog would suddenly stop *********. It is a very excruciating process as the kidneys become quite painful. This is the most obvious sign. You would notice your pet\’s arched back or stiff leg movement. In such a case, you would need to rush your precious pet to a veterinarian immediately.

In the case of chronic dog kidney disease, the symptoms are different and they occur over a period of time. The first indicator is an increase in thirst and consequently water consumption. This is a constant indicator of the disease. The dog might lose his or her desire to eat resulting in excessive weight loss over time. Contrary to the acute dog kidney disease, in the chronic version, the canine loses control over its bladder function. As a result, it urinates very frequently. As time passes, the process of ********* will cause extreme discomfort and become very painful. It is possible that there might even be blood in the urine or it may become impossible for the dog to urinate completely.

Since the chronic canine kidney disease is a fatal illness, it is advisable to rush your pet to the veterinarian as soon as you see any of the warning signs such as problem in urination, vomiting, lethargy and depression. Any combination of these signs is a sure shot reason to go to the vet. If caught in time, there is hope for cure of this malady.

If the veterinarian suspects kidney disease he will usually follow four steps to decide if the dog has the disease or not. A thorough physical examination is what he will normally do first. The dogs relevant history will be gone over with the owner next, things such as their home behavior and symptoms. A blood test and urinary test are the two steps he will take after the first two steps are done. Both tests have to be done to make sure of a correct diagnosis. Whether or not your dog has acute or chronic kidney disease will be confirmed by both of these tests.

villenoire asked:


sease is one such killer. It can manifest itself in two ways. One is acute kidney disease and the other is chronic kidney disease. The former strikes suddenly whereas the latter takes effect over a period of time. Either way, the result if fatal for the canine and heartbreaking for the owner.

This disease causes a loss of approximately seventy percent of normal kidney function and it is these organs that act as the body\’s filtration system. If these do not work properly, toxins and waste products slowly build up in the blood. This can lead to a variety of problems, and sadly, eventual death. This unfortunately is the harsh reality of canine kidney disease.

Kidney failure in dogs stops the ability of the body to function properly. Toxins begin to build up in their bodies and once this starts, a number of symptoms and warning signs will more than likely become apparent. These two chronic diseases show different symptoms, the acute form can appear more suddenly. Often, dogs suffering from this type of kidney disease will possibly have become dehydrated. For the owner to test for hydration, gently pull on the skin of your dog\’s stomach. This should spring back. If it doesn\’t, there may be a possibility that your dog is dehydrated.

You may have noticed your dog not wanting to pass urine or no urine production at all. This is also is a warning sign that your pet may be a victim of acute kidney disease. This disease can lead to your dog having extremely painful kidneys; or you may notice the animal moving with stiff legs or an arched back. These symptoms are signs for any dog owner to watch out for.

In the case of chronic kidney disease, the symptoms are different and they occur over a period of time. The first indicator is an increase in thirst and consequently water consumption. This is a constant indicator of the disease. The dog might lose his or her desire to eat resulting in excessive weight loss over time. Contrary to the acute kidney disease, in the chronic version, the canine loses control over its bladder function. As a result, it urinates very frequently. As time passes, the process of ********* will cause extreme discomfort and become very painful. It is possible that there might even be blood in the urine or it may become impossible for the dog to urinate completely. Since the chronic kidney disease is a fatal illness, it is advisable to rush your pet to the veterinarian as soon as you see any of the warning signs such as problem in urination, vomiting, lethargy and depression. Any combination of these signs is a sure shot reason to go to the vet. If caught in time, there is hope for cure of this malady.

The treatment that a vet will start, for this very serious ailment, is typically four staged. The first step is to carry out a physical check up to eliminate other reasons for the symptoms. Next is the verification from the owner regarding the history and symptoms of this disorder. Then there will be tests – a blood test and finally a urine test to confirm the prognosis.

villenoire asked:


bably one of the leading causes of death in older dogs. There are two forms in which the disease can manifest itself, acute or chronic. The acute form can happen so quickly and suddenly, while the chronic form begins slowly and progresses over time. Sadly for the owner, news of either form of disease is upsetting.

This disease causes a loss of approximately seventy percent of normal kidney function and it is these organs that act as the body\’s filtration system. If these do not work properly, toxins and waste products slowly build up in the blood. This can lead to a variety of problems, and sadly, eventual death. This unfortunately is the harsh reality of canine kidney disease.

The ability of a dog\’s body to properly function is stopped by kidney failure. A number of symptoms and warning signs will likely become obvious when the toxins begin to build up in their bodies. The acute time form usually appears more quickly even though both these chronic diseases show different symptoms. Dogs that suffer with this form of kidney disease can become dehydrated. Gently pull the skin on your dog\’s stomach to test them for hydration. The skin should spring back. There is a real possibility that your dog is dehydrated if it does not.

Your dog may have noticeable trouble passing urine or produce no urine as all. Your pet may be a victim of acute kidney disease if they have this warning sign. You may see your animal moving with an arched back or stiff legs and your dog can have extreme pain in the kidneys. Any dog owner should be sure to watch for these signs of kidney disease.

There are different symptoms shown with chronic kidney disease. Where they would usually gulp food they may begin to show signs of a decrease in appetite so drastic they do not want to eat. They could even stop eating all together. Weight loss will occur in time. An increase in thirst and the amount of water they drink will increase which is one of the first warning signs that the disease has begun. This signs are common with the condition. There may be an increase in the frequency of ********* as the dog can lose bladder control. In some cases ********* can become painful and often impossible with blood showing up in the urine. Any signs of urine symptoms, vomiting, lethargic or depressed in your pet should be treated as a warning sign and you should call your vet immediately since canine kidney disease is serious and can be deadly. It could be possible to get control over the disease if it is caught soon enough.

The treatment that a vet will start, for this very serious ailment, is typically four staged. The first step is to carry out a physical check up to eliminate other reasons for the symptoms. Next is the verification from the owner regarding the history and symptoms of this disorder. Then there will be tests – a blood test and finally a urine test to confirm the prognosis.